Articles for July 2016

Zechariah 3:1-7 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by. The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.

Background:

Israel had just returned from Babylon. Prophets Haggai and Zechariah were bringing a Word of restoration to a people who, through the years of reckless living and the consequent decades of slavery had lost much – personally and corporately. Striped of their personal dignity and national symbols of security, preservation and identity such as the walls, their houses and The Temple that had been built by Solomon, theirs was a huge backlog of building just to get to where the city once was.

Nothing can be as disheartening as working to rebuild what was once so well established at a time when resources are not even a fraction of what they were when the original project was constructed.

But their dignity depended on the rebuilding of walls, dwellings and the temple. By this time the walls were up – through the able leadership of Nehemiah and the next phase was to have decent living quarters for people in the city while the rebuilding of the main project, The Temple, continued. The foundations were laid with great excitement and celebration but soon thereafter project stalled completely. Years went by and the building site? pitiful and deserted. The Problem? Everyone was concentrating on their family dwellings, and they were doing a good job at it. Paneled houses, for sure GOD who wanted them restored to their former glory would understand. Besides, the main project demanded too much resources if it were to come any close to the original.

Two decades later, they hit a snag. They are struggling under circumstances they can’t really explain. Although pushing hard, There’s very little to show for it. So much so, even the little they have achieved stands threatened by the regressive mode they find themselves in. That’s when the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah come to their rescue by putting things in perspective.

They were expected to prioritize GOD, and that they’d show it by letting their hard work and resourcefulness benefit the temple FIRST! Then the Blessings to propel them forward in all their endeavors would remain.

But it was not a physical Temple only that was in shambles. They’re spiritual leadership was cornered by a relentless accuser – satan himself. Their priests could not minister before a Holy GOD with confidence because of “soiled garments.” You will remember that a priest’s garments were ‘for beauty and dignity.’ And that was lacking in their lives. satan’s incessant accusations were not helping.

That’s when GOD sent this relief to His People through prophet Zechariah.

It’s a very telling scenario: Whenever we stand before GOD the enemy wants to intercept by bringing to our attention a sense of guilt. But Praise be to Jesus because;

Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

1. GIVE THANKS THAT satan’s ACCUSATIONS AGAINST YOU ARE BEING DROWNED BY GOD’S REDEEMING LOVE

The devil who is throwing up nauseating accusations against you to undermine your much needed confidence in the priestly duty of Prayers and Praise is NO MATCH to the Gracious GOD who’s on your side.

Romans 8:31-34 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

2. GIVE THANKS FOR HIS SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE – THAT GOD IS GIVING YOU CLEAN PRIESTLY GARMENTS

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

3. GIVE THANKS THAT DOMINION / THE ABILITY TO REIGN IN LIFE IS COMING BACK TO YOU

Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Psalms 133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the PRECIOUS OIL upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

1.1. PRAY THAT FOR THE EYES OF ALL BELIEVERS WITHIN OUR CAMPUSES TO SEE THIS BLESSEDNESS

1.2. PRAY THAT ALL WHO COME WILL NOT MISS OUT ON THIS PRECIOUS OIL

1. 3. PRAY THAT ALL OF US WILL EXPERIENCE THE DEW-OF-HERMON EXPERIENCE

1.4. PRAY THAT NONE WILL MISS ON THE COMMANDED BLESSING OF THE LORD!

1.5. PRAY FOR A RENEWED APPETITE FOR THAT ABUNDANT AND EVERLASTING ZOE

DAY 1. EVENING

1. PRAY FOR A REVIVAL AND JOY OF CONFERENCING

Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

1.1. PRAY THAT THE MEETINGS WILL CHARACTERIZED BY JOY AND NEVER BY A SENSE OF DUTY

Isaiah 56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

1.2. PRAY THAT THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR WAY WILL REDISCOVER THEIR PATH IN LIFE.

1.3. PRAY THAT CONFERENCE COORDINATORS WILL FIND IT EASY TO PERSUADE MANY TO COME.

Background: Abner was commander over the armies of Saul. He was a shrewd self serving man who delayed David from reigning over all of Israel

BUT THE EVIL HE HAD PLANTED FOUND HIM OUT EVEN AT THE VERGE OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ARGUABLY HIS BEST DAYS AS A PROFESSIONAL

THE EVILS OF ABNER

1. ABNER STARTED THE MOST SENSELESS EGO FIGHTS BETWEEN MEN OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL / HOUSE OF DAVID VS HOUSE OF SAUL.

2 Samuel 2:12-13 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

2 Samuel 2:14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

1.2. HUNDREDS DIED FOR NO CAUSE

The ABNER spirit wastes lives. These were men who left their homes to join Saul in order to fight against the Philistines and protect their families. But now they were dying, falling by their hundreds – fighting against who? Their own brothers!

2 Samuel 2:17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

2 Samuel 2:30-31 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner.

1.3. THESE SENSELESS FIGHTS LASTED A LONG TIME

The ABNER spirit wastes time! All dreams have a time line – a best before date. Those men had families. At home they were loved and longed for! Their children were growing without them. This pursuit had no reward whatsoever! Often fighting men came home with spoils. What spoils would these men bring? There was no reward – time is money!

2 Samuel 3:1 THERE WAS a LONG WAR between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2. ABNER TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SENSELESS FIGHTS HE HAD CREATED TO DIVERGE ATTENTION FROM HIMSELF.

2 Samuel 3:6 While there was war between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

NB: MARK THOSE WHO STRENGTHEN THEMSELVES BY DESTABILIZING YOUR WORK, FAMILY, BUSINESS

Someone gains by keeping you away from your home Someone gains by keeping you busy with pursuits of little value Someone gains by keeping you away from parenting your own children Someone gains

Many parents who buy their children expensive gadgets and fashion do so out of a sense of guilt – they are not there to parent their children.
They are afraid to say No! Lest they push their kids further into the wrong company.

INTROSPECTION?

2.1. WHAT ARE THE SENSELESS FIGHTS OR PURSUITS THAT ARE SERVING AS DISTRACTIONS IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW AIMED AT REMOVING YOUR MIND FROM THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER?

IT could be a desire for revenge – someone did you wrong and seem to be getting away with it. While you are consumed by the desire to get back at them in what you feel is “justice”. …. Your time is being stolen, your dreams are being neglected, your strength and energy misdirected!!!

It could be a “keep-me-busy” affair that has no future chance of Blessing your life. A distraction that could cause you untold embarrassment if uncovered! While you work hard to keep it under cover, your real passion in life is being stifled and strangled.

It could be a habit, a hobby, or any such pursuit that has no lasting reward that you can take pride of in the future when you reevaluate your life and the moments spent.

ABNER WASTED TIME AND MOMENTS FOR MANY DESTINIES!!

LORD! UNCOVER THE ABNERS AROUND ME!!!

3. ABNER BLOCKED THE PROGRESS OF A NATION FOR PERSONAL GAIN ALL THE WHILE HE NEW WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED TO DO FOR HIS PEOPLE THROUGH DAVID.

2 Samuel 2:8-10 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David.

4. ABNER FRUSTRATED AND DELAYED ISRAEL!

BY MAKING ISH-BOSHETH KING HE WAS NOT ONLY BLOCKING DAVID BUT ALSO DELIBERATELY FRUSTRATING THE EXPRESSED DESIRES OF ISRAEL TO HAVE DAVID AS THEIR LEADER

2 Samuel 3:17-21 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

NB. So, all along abner knew who should be king but put the puppet king He ABNER could control!!!

41. The ABNER spirit seeks to control. It wants itself where power lies. It positions itself to be where the decisions are mad
……. LORD,

5. ABNER POSITIONED HIMSELF AS THE “KING MAKER”

HE WANTED TO CLING TO POWER BY BEING A “GO-BETWEEN” ISRAEL AND THEIR GOD GIVEN KING, DAVID. LATER HE COULD EASILY SAY, DAVID, “I MADE YOU KING!!!” I DELIVERED THE KINGDOM TO YOU!

AND TO ISRAEL, HE COULD SAY – I DELIVERED YOU A GREAT KING!!!

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

NB: Somebody illegitimate wants to be part of your story! They want to be able to say: You are where you are because of me! They want you to have a sense of ” indebtedness ” ….. An I owe all to you feeling! A were it not for you feeling!

ONLY GOD WILL ESTABLISH YOU

PRAYER POINTS:

5.1. NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU RICH ON EARTH – Help me remember LORD

Genesis 14:22-24 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand and sworn to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth, That I would not take a thread or a shoelace or anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich. [Take all] except only what my young men have eaten and the share of the men [allies] who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Deuteronomy 8:18 But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

5.2. NO ONE CAN EVER PROMOTE YOU ON EARTH. LORD , all the Glory to you

Psalms 75:6-7 For not from the east nor from the west nor from the south come promotion and lifting up. But God is the Judge! He puts down one and lifts up another.

6. WHEN ABNER SENT A DELEGATION TO DAVID IT WAS NOT ISRAEL’S INTEREST HE WAS SERVING BUT HIS OWN!!!

2 Samuel 3:12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

7. LORD HELP ME WAX STRONGER THAN MY OPPONENTS

2 Samuel 3:1 THERE WAS a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

PRAY FOR FORTITUDE – courage even when faced with adversity.

PRAY FOR GROWTH –

2 Peter 3:17-18

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will MAKE YOUR WAY PROSPEROUS, and then YOU WILL HAVE GOOD SUCCESS.

Success is hardly ever by accident. Every sane human being longs for success. Even those who seem irritable at the mention of the word success are hardly ever resistant to good things when they happen to them. Success is sweet. Success is a GOD idea. The opposite thereof is failure. Failure is miserable. The wise diligently seek for ways to avoid failure and where it seems inevitable, they devise strategies to turn it into advantage. But their firm and final resolve is to rise above the dung hill of non performance and swim out of the putrid waters of stagnation. Stagnant waters carry diseases and an ever increasing stench.

PRAY that your hunger for good success will restored
PRAY that the gifts of GOD in you that were given to elevate you will emerge from the dust of discouragement and the rust of inactivity.
PRAY that that inspiration and enthusiasm will always find you.

2. IT IS THE UNDERWRITER OF OUR BLESSING

James 1:25
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES.

Blessing IS NOT THINGS!!! Blessings and materialism are not the same. There are many who are regularly in fine apparel, on sleek wheels and dining sumptuously in fine establishments. If that is blessing, they look blessed indeed. But often what you see is debt

Blessing is the power to prosper. The glorious force that moves one forward in the good things that he does. The invisible yet evident force that propels the individual, family or nation to Godly progress and wellbeing.

3. IT IS OUR GUARANTEE TO FRESHNESS AND FRUITFULNESS

PSALM 1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he MEDITATES day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its FRUIT IN SEASON in its season,
Whose LEAF also shall not wither;
And whatever he DOES SHALL PROSPER.

3.1. FRESHNESS

Nothing is as short lived and as elusive as freshness in a fallen world. Everything seems to quickly grow old and pale from the moment it is made or unveiled.
From food to ideas. Newness, though so desired and pursued vigorously, this pursuit seems to be a never ending race. Man’s artificial ways to grapple with and capture freshness seem laughable. We cane what can and freeze what can be frozen, and though usable later but it all still falls short of the one thing we desire… Freshness!

But GOD promises that when we Meditate on HIS WORD we become like a leaf that does not wither.

So, no matter what season you find yourself in right now, refresh yourself in the waters of the Word.

3.2. FRUITFULNESS

In life people are either fruitful or frustrated. Nothing in between. The first words that were heard by the human spirit after creation were an enabling command to “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, FILL THE EARTH, SUBDUE IT, DOMINATE IT.

Man fell into sin, the fall took away the enabling glory. But the command had not changed. The need to be fruitful without the might to do so became a perpetual frustration from generation to generation.

Jesus came, and the world has never been the same. He reiterated the original mandate to be fruitful

John 15:8
By this My Father is glorified, that you BEAR MUCH FRUIT; so you will be My disciples.

AND HE restored the Power to Prosper

John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; for without Me you can do nothing.

4.1. ARISE TODAY AND PROSPER AS YOU MEDITATE ON THESE PRECIOUS PROMISES ELEVATION BEGINS

Isaiah 60:1-2

The Glory of Zion
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.

4.2. YOU WERE BORN TO MAKE PROGRESS – PROGRESS YOU WILL MAKE

Ephesians 1:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

4 3. YOU ARE DESTINED TO WIN – WINNING WILL NOT ELUDE YOU

1 Chronicles 12:18b
Success, success to you,
and success to those who help you,
for your God will help you.”

4.4. ALL RESISTANCE TO SUCCESS IS DEFEATED – GET THE devil ON THE RUN!!! ENFORCE THAT VICTORY IN JESUS NAME!

James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he WILL FLEE FROM YOU!

YOU ARE the Revelation
YOU ARE the Word of GOD
YOU ARE the One who was, who Is and is to Come
YOU ARE the Faithful Witness
YOU ARE the Firstborn from the dead
YOU ARE the Ruler over the kings of the earth

YOU have loved us
YOU have washed us from our sin with your own blood
YOU have made us kings and priests
Dominion and Glory belong to you forever and ever

YOU ARE the soon coming king – and every eye will see you
YOU ARE the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end
YOU ARE ADONAI – The LORD ALMIGHTY

YOU ARE the Son on man
YOU ARE clothed in garments of Righteousness
YOU ARE girded with the Golden Belt of Truth
YOUR HEAD is as white as snow
YOUR EYES are like a flame of fire
YOUR FEET are like fine brass refined in a furnace
YOUR VOICE is as the Sound of many waters

SEVEN STARS are at your right hand
OUT OF YOUR MOUTH comes the Double-edged Sword
YOUR FACE IS LIKE THE SUN shinning in all its strength

YOU ARE THE FIRST AND THE LAST
THE ONE WHO LIVES and were dead
YOU LIVE FOREVER MORE!
YOU HAVE THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES

YOU WALK among your churches
YOU KNOW our works our labor
YOU ARE THE SPIRIT that speaks to the church

……. So speak to us to today,
Our hearts are open
Our minds are alert
Our spirits receptive

We are ready for teaching, encouragement, correction, rebuke, enlightenment progress and promotion